Gaylord Nelson and Henry S. Reuss

Former Wisconsin governor and U.S. Senator, author of landmark environmental legislation and founder of Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson (left), and Democratic U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, Henry S. Reuss (right) emerge as significant advocates for the vision of an Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Following the Trail’s first successful thru-hiker, and under the sponsorship of Congressman Henry S. Reuss (pictured here speaking with Gaylord Nelson [left]), the Ice Age Trail finally joined the National Trails System. On October 3, 1980, President Carter signed the law establishing the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.